Newsletter

Man arrested in Jesup slayings

JESUP - A Wayne County man suspected in this morning's slayings of his ex-wife and former father-in-law and the wounding of his former mother-in-law was arrested this afternoon.

James Ralph Spells, 37, was arrested about 12:30 p.m. in Jeff Davis County, about 50 miles northwest of Jesup where the shootings occurred this morning, Wayne County Sheriff John Carter said.

Spells is suspected in the slayings of Amanda Harrison, 24, and Gary Harrison, 53, Carter said. Jeaney Harrison, 49, was critically wounded in the attack, but was able to reach a neighbor's home and summon deputies.

Carter said Wayne deputies responded to a call about 5 a.m. of a shooting at 133 Rodney Jones Drive, off Ga. 169 about three miles north of Jesup. When deputies arrived, they found the bodies of Amanda and Gary Harrison.

A 4-year-old child at the residence at the time of the shooting was uninjured, Carter said.

Jesup is about 50 miles southwest of Savannah.

Carter said Spells fled after the shooting in a white 1998 Ford F-150 pickup. Carter said Spells' last known address was 215 Bill Elliott Road, about two miles north of the slayings.

Spells was arrested without incident during a routine traffic stop in Hazelhurst, Carter said.

Spells was also sought in connection with a July 25 aggravated assault incident, Carter said.